The Japanese concerns have provided $10.5 million of the $17.2 million invested in the project so far.

Through an interpreter, he said no decision had been made on whether his company or other Japanese concerns would invest in the project.

Shearson will become the second major brokerage house to sell a large stake to a Japanese concern.

The assumption is that most of the advanced televisions will be made by Japanese concerns.

The venture follows other recent moves into the movie business by Japanese concerns.

Even here, in such an out-of-the-way town, there was the typical Japanese concern with punctuality.

In that period, dozens of office buildings were purchased by Japanese concerns.

They point out that a growing number of companies, including Japanese concerns, are trying to grab a piece of the market.

No special consideration will be given to Japanese concerns, nor have any special projects been set aside for them, officials said.

Such an investment, he said, "would be regarded as a unique opportunity for a Japanese concern."